About YWCA Cambridge

Empowering Our Community for Over 75 Years Asset 10

We champion gender equity through impactful leadership, advocacy, and program delivery.

Our Mission

As a trusted community leader, we give a voice to the needs of cis and trans women and girls, and non-binary and Two-Spirit individuals, through innovative and responsive programs, services, and advocacy.

Our Vision

Through leadership, advocacy, and program and service delivery, we will influence communities to ensure all women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals are respected, valued, and equal.

A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP

Our Story

For over 75 years, we’ve led the charge for women’s rights and gender equity. As a member agency of YWCA Canada, we’re part of the nation’s oldest and largest gender justice movement to provide shelter, literacy, life skills, employment and counselling programs, and child care services.

Founded in 1948 by visionary women in Galt (now Cambridge), we began as a safe residence for single women and mothers.

As the world changed over the years, so did we. Today, our commitment to building a just and equitable world for all is stronger than ever. 

We’re here for you through essential services like child care, employment skills training, and gender-based violence prevention workshops.

We believe that together, we can create a brighter future.

Our Work

Decades since we began, our efforts are still sparking meaningful, positive changes in the community.

These statistics represent only a small portion of the thousands of women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals we help empower.

Summer Camp

600+ Summer Campers every year.

81% of Campers are repeat attendees!

Students Reached

500+ Students reached each year through Roots of Empathy.

94% of children in ROE understand others' feelings better at the end of the program.

Education

550 Youths informed through GBV Prevention workshops every year.

100% of educators agreed that workshops helped students identify healthy ways of interacting with their peers.

Summer Camp

600+ Summer Campers every year.

81% of Campers are repeat attendees!

Students Reached

500+ Students reached each year through Roots of Empathy.

94% of children in ROE understand others' feelings better at the end of the program.

Education

550 Youths informed through GBV Prevention workshops every year.

100% of educators agreed that workshops helped students identify healthy ways of interacting with their peers.

All-In for Our Community

Our organization is driven by passionate individuals working together to support our community through programming, outreach, child care services, and more!

ADVANCING GENDER EQUITY

For a community where everyone feels safe, valued, and equal.

We’re continually renewing our commitment to gender equity and responding to the needs in our community — through policy analysis, campaigns, research, coalition building, programming, and more.

Advocacy

We push for systemic solutions to critical gender equity issues, including women’s homelessness, employment, and child care.

We engage with officials in local, regional, and national governments by presenting research and case studies, calling for increased funding, and giving a voice to those in our community in meetings with other leaders.

Leadership & Knowledge

Thought leadership helps us highlight and address the experiences of women and gender-diverse individuals. We engage our community with new perspectives through podcasts, public education events, and collaborative research projects.

In 2023, we reached a major milestone by making the case for and receiving Regional Council support to establish the first women’s emergency homeless shelter in Cambridge.

Programs & Services

We understand the immediate needs of our community and help equip women, girls, children, and gender-diverse individuals with essential skills and knowledge.

Together, we address issues like gender-based violence, healthy relationships, and financial literacy. We also support women and families with child care services in over 400 licensed spaces in Cambridge.

shades mills campers painting and crafting on a pic nic table

Our Values

Women's Leadership

Working with and for women, from a woman’s perspective and leadership, to achieve equity and equality for all.

Accountability

Managing our organization in a way that aligns with our stakeholders, participants, volunteers, mission, vision, and values.

Community-Mindedness

Being a part of a local, national and global community, we believe in and support the growth of healthy communities.

Equity

Fostering an environment of equity and open-mindedness to ensure that individual voices are heard.

Accessibility

Committed to being accessible and welcoming to all people who participate in our work, programs, and services.

Self-Determination

Believing in the fundamental right and responsibility of women and girls to make choices regarding their lives, and supporting them in those choices.

Inclusion

Respecting the dignity and diversity of our participants, staff, and volunteers, and encouraging them to reach their full potential.

Annual Reports

Our annual reports help us to reflect on our work, successes, challenges, and plans for moving forward.

Check out some of our recent reports below!

2019

Annual Report

2020

Annual Report

2021

Annual Report

2022

Annual Report

Our Impact

Participant-Led, Responsive Programs

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“Everything the YWCA does is a lot more caring and gentle and participant-led… everyone has a space to speak; everyone has a space to belong.”

Charlotte

By involving participants in the design and implementation of our programs, we create a dynamic environment that adapts and promotes inclusion.

We aim to address participants’ needs and strengths in a responsive approach through positive role models. They’re invited to share experiences, challenge harmful stereotypes, and recognize their talents, with equal opportunities to develop new skills.